31 Days to Clean – Week 1
I decided to jump in and join the “31 Days to Clean” challenge on Joyful Mothering (click the picture above to read all about it). I purchased an eBook copy of the book, so I’m stuck reading it on the computer (via KindleForPC), but at least I don’t have to do a bunch of printing.
The challenge started last week, with Days 1 -5 being “assigned” for Monday through Friday.
Each day, the book presents a short reading – a lesson, a devotional, a motivating story, etc. Then there is a Mary Challenge (for your heart), and a Martha Challenge (for your hands). Theoretically, in 31 days, you’ll have a “Spring Cleaned” home, as well as a changed attitude and plan for keeping things in order.
Can’t hurt, right?
So, how did Week 1 go for me? Hmmmm… Fair.
I enjoyed the readings, and was able to get on-board with the Mary Challenges.
The Martha Challenges were a bit more problematic.
I did get the fridge and freezer cleaned out and cleaned up on Day 2… But I got slightly freaked out when I looked ahead for the supplies I would need to complete the rest of the tasks (that was a task), and discovered that on Day 6 I was expected to clean out an organize all my kitchen cabinets.
Ummm, no. That big a chunk of time is just not in the agenda for that day – or, realistically, for any day when anything else is happening.
That is not in the same league of time as the other Martha Challenges, which seemed like incremental and do-able “baby steps”.
Now, classically, I have gotten freaked out and I’m having trouble working up the motivation to read and participate any further. Who knows WHAT other Martha challenges will be ahead (I don’t – I was too chicken to keep looking after that!).
Yes, I will get back on the horse. Maybe this week will be smoother…
Luckily, most of my cabinets are already organized. I do those pretty regularly, b/c I am sorta OCD on some of those cabinets. LOL
I sure wish mine were…
Of course my biggest issue right now is that there aren’t enough of them (ditto the “pantry” challenge for this week). When there’s not enough space to even put everything, it all ends up getting shoved in wherever it will fit…
Well, I’m still working on day one – making a pretty mission statement! I have the mission statement made (after about 2-3 weeks of thinking), and I know what I want to do, but it requires more crafting supplies. It’ll be adorable if I ever finish it. Anyway, that’s as far as I’ve gotten! I’ve skimmed over the book and just cleaning out the fridge and freezer (we have two fridges with little freezers and a deep freezer). They’re all crammed full of food I’ve gotten at great prices. The last time I organized the deep freezer and inventoried it was last fall and it took about 3 hours. I was inspired to get my bedroom and bathroom done, though. I decided I could make one room beautiful for my husband and keep it that way. We can go to bed and wake up in a peaceful and clean place. I love the kitchen, too, but I kinda thought that was my little space until I read that story about the woman in the farm that you posted yesterday on facebook. After cleaning a house for another lady today, I may have to tackle my kitchen again before Jim comes home to a chaotic mess.
I’m going to post that story with my Challenge post this week, because it really hit me, too.
I just printed out my Mission Statement and stuck it on the wall. I did choose a cute font, center it, etc… But I resisted the temptation to get too hung up on making it truly wonderful, at the expense of doing all the other things that actually need doing.
Sounds like a great idea!I am going to look into this and begin in June. Thanks!
Angela
Hi Tiffany,
Thanks for jumping on board! Please, do not feel prisoner to these challenges. Do what you can and leave the rest. The core of the book is really addressing the heart, not cramming more into our “to do” list.
If you go through the book and find you only have the ability [or need] to tackle the Mary challenges, then by all means!